SCU vs. Stanford

Deciding between Santa Clara University and Stanford University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Clara University
Stanford University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SCU Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SCU No
  • Stanford Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • SCU Yes
  • Stanford Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SCU No
  • Stanford No
  • Daycare Facility
  • SCU Yes
  • Stanford Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Stanford University in Stanford, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Stanford University is larger than SCU based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 9,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Stanford University 6:1.

SCU vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU or Stanford? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Stanford University than SCU ($25,078 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Clara University are 6.7% lower than at Stanford University ($19,893 vs. $21,315).
  • Stanford University is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $4,617 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Stanford than at Santa Clara University (about $4,617 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at Stanford University (71% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 121.2% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($62,755 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU or Stanford? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Stanford and SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 130 points higher than at SCU (1420).
  • Incoming Stanford students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at SCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

SCU vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU and Stanford? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Santa Clara University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $41,000 more per year than SCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $81,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $9,025 lower median loan debt than SCU graduates ($12,475 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCU graduates ($128 vs. $222).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.